Container

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for producing book-like containers for tape-like or disk-like record supports for acoustic and/or optical information, as well as data processing programs, with a book back made from cardboard and a reception part fixed thereto for the record supports and a container produced by this method. From a cardboard blank is initially produced a book cover with a round back part, followed by the production of a foil-lined print covering, which is provided with a system impression and is then connected to the book cover. Then on the first inside of the book cover is fixed a cover member for the reception part formed as a deep-drawn part from polystyrene or the like and on the other inside of the book cover is fixed a base member also made as a deep-drawn part from polystyrene or the like and which is connected with the cover member of the reception part by a preshaped back part. As a result, in the vicinity of the back part, the book cover is not joined therewith.

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 06/631,554, filed July 9, 1984 and now abandoned.

The invention relates to a method for producing book-like containers fortape-like or disk-like record supports for acoustic and/or opticalinformation, as well as data processing programmes with a book back madefrom cardboard and a reception part for the record support fixedthereto, as well as to a container produced by this method.

It is known to use box-shaped hinged or folding containers for receivingcassettes, e.g. video cassettes and which have the appearance of a bookin the closed state. They are made from flexible PVC foil, which isformed into a hinged container by high frequency welding. A transparentfoil is so arranged on the outer surface of the hinged container, that aslide-in pocket is formed from a printed sheet with information on thecontent of the container. However, these known hinged containers sufferfrom serious disadvantages. The connection between the container halvesis also constituted by a flexible PVC foil, so that the foil portions inthe vicinity of the hinges frequently tear or crease after a shortperiod of use under the influence of alternating temperatures. As thehinged containers only have a limited dimensional stability, they deformduring use, so that the external appearance is considerably impaired.Another disadvantage is that the insertion of the printed sheets intothe slide-in pocket formed by the transparent foil is far from easy. Thesharp edges of the hinged container caused by the manufacturing processcan easily lead to finger injuries. This danger also exists when usingthe hinged container. In addition, the printed sheets can be easilyremoved for unauthorized making of copies.

Another container is known from German Utility Model No. 8,101,267,which is externally formed from a hard paper or cardboard layer, ontowhich is internally stuck a plastic layer for receiving the cassette.The external hard paper or cardboard layer can be externally providedwith a printed layer. The disadvantage of this container is that, duringuse, as a result of the opening movements of the cardboard and theplastic foil, tearing and creasing can easily occur in the vicinity ofthe back hinges. In addition, the external cardboard surface can beeasily damaged or dirtied by scratches and the like.

The object of the invention is to so construct a container for tape-likeor disk-like record supports or holders of the type describedhereinbefore, that the disadvantages of known flexible PVC containersare avoided. Whilst obtaining a dimensionally stable book-like characterof the container, the record supports are arranged in positionallysecure manner and the actual container can be provided with informationwhich cannot be reproduced in a destruction-free manner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a book coverwith a round back part is formed from a cardboard blank, then afoil-lined print covering is produced, is given a system overprint andis connected to the book cover, whilst then on the first inside of thebook cover, is fixed a cover member for the reception part formed as adeep-drawn member from polystyrene or the like and on the other insideof the book cover is fixed the base member of the reception part whichis also in the form of a deep-drawn part made from polystyrene or thelike and which is connected to the cover member of the reception part bya preshaped back part, in such a way that the book cover is notconnected to the back part in the vicinity thereof.

According to a further feature of the invention, the book cover of thecardboard container is rounded in the back section and is externallyfixed to a foil-lined print covering and on the inside is connected to areception part made in per se known manner from a one or multipart blankof polystyrene or the like and which comprises a cover member and a basemember, in which is formed at least one recess having a reduced bearingsurface compared with the opening cross-section, whilst in the vicinityof the back section is provided a resiliently elastically constructedconcave connecting section, which is not connected to the back sectionof the book cover.

Further developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.Embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings, whereinshow:

FIG. 1 a diagrammatic view of a container according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 the container according to FIG. 1 in side view in open andclosed positions.

FIG. 4 a diagrammatic front view of the container in the open position.

FIG. 5 a sectional side view of the container in the open position.

FIG. 6 a front view of the container in the open position.

FIG. 7 a corner section of the base member with a clamping member in alarger scale sectional detail.

FIG. 8 another construction of a container in the open position in afront view.

FIG. 9a a side view along section A--A of the container of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9b a detail in section B--B.

Container 1 comprises a book cover 2 made from cardboard or the like,which is rounded in the back section 3. On side 6 of book cover 2 isprovided a reception part 8, which in per se known manner comprises aone-piece blank 7 of polystyrene or the like (FIGS. 1 to 4).

On the outside 4 of book cover 2 a foil-lined print covering 5 is fixedto book cover 2. Print covering 5 is preferably formed from atear-resistant polypropylene foil, which has directly lined colourprints. For example, different video systems can be identified by metalhot foil blockings (FIGS. 5 and 6).

The reception part 8 is bonded to the book cover 2. In the vicinity ofback section 3, a concave connecting section 9 is formed on receptionpart 8 and is not connected to back section 3. The connecting section 9is constructed in such a way that it has resilient elasticcharacteristics and assists the closure of container 1.

For this purpose, additionally the corner sections 29, 30, 31, 32 of thesurrounding guidance web 28 of wall 27 formed from marginal webs 15, 16,17, 18 convexly protrude towards the outer edge of wall 27 by means ofthickened material portions 33 (FIG. 7). Portions 33 serve as clampingmembers 35, which permit a clamp fastening of base member 11 to covermember 10.

The reception part 8 comprises a cover member 10 and a base member 11,between which is arranged the connecting section 9. A recess 14 having areduced bearing surface 13 compared with the opening cross-section 12 isformed in base member 11. Recess 14 is located on the free outermarginal webs 15, 16, 17 of the base member, accompanied by theformation of a shoulder 20. Two per se known lugs 22 projecting from thebottom surface 21 are formed in recess 14 so as to constitute cassetteholders. As a result of the two lugs 22 and recess 14, bottom member 11is able to securely house both standard cassettes and smaller-sizedBetamax cassettes.

A clearance 23 is provided in the marginal web 18 of base member 11facing back section 3. Clearance 23 extends up to the bearing surface 24of the wall portion of wall 27 of base member 11 associated withmarginal web 18 and serves as a reception aid for the cassette locatedin base member 11. When the container is closed, clearance 23 is coveredby the allround web 19 of cover member 10, so that the cassette in basemember 11 is stored in dustproof manner.

The bottom surface 40 of cover member 10 is constructed as a symbolcarrier surface. For this purpose, it is possible to insert in anarbitrary manner in the form of a production tool, a plate with raisedsymbols corresponding to the bottom surface 40, in order that the lattercan reproduce different informations.

Externally, container 1 has the true-to-shape character of a book, whichcan in particular be obtained by an original book cover being used ascover 2. By covering book cover 2 with a directly glossy foil-linedprint covering 5 or some comparable material, it is possible topermanently maintain the brightness of the multicolour prints used. Thespecial configuration of clearance 23 in the raised guidance web 24a ofmarginal web 18, as well as the interengaging all-round edges,constructed as a snap closure, of the all-round web 19 of cover member10 and the marginal webs 15, 16, 17, 18 of base member 11 permit optimumdust protection and simultaneously protect the cassette located in basemember 11 from falling out on opening. The areas of the inner hinges 25,26 subject to particular mechanical stress are substantially protectedagainst destruction by the rounded connecting section 9. A specialadvantage of container 1 is that the print covering 5 is fixed to bookcover 2 and can only be used with difficulty for reproduction purposes.This forgery security of container 1 is further increased if thefoil-lined print covering 5 is identified by a metal hot foil blocking.

FIGS. 8 to 9b show a further container 1a, which is used for thecombined reception of magazine-like information carriers, cassettes, andalso record supports in disk form. The magazine-like information carriercan be placed on the bottom surface 40 of cover member 10. For retainingpurposes, the marginal web portions 42, 44 have thickened portions 47 inthe plane of bearing surface 46 and these prevent the magazine-likeinformation carrier from dropping out of cover member 10. In order to beable to remove the information carrier from cover member 10, in themarginal web portion 44 a clearance 41 is formed, which extends over theentire height of the all-round web 19 and up to bottom surface 40. Inthe vicinity of clearance 41, it is possible to engage under themagazine-like information carrier and to laterally displace the sameuntil it moves past the thickned portion 47 of marginal web portion 44and can be removed upwards.

Two recesses 14 are formed in base member 11 and their bearing faces 13carry in each case two lugs 22, which maintain the cassettes in place,each being inserted in one of the recesses 14. Thus, between the latterand the marginal webs 15, 16, 17, 18, is formed an all-round mountingface 48, on which can e.g. be placed a disk. The disk is centrallysupported by a central web 49 between recesses 14. A retaining member 50is placed on each of the marginal portions of marginal webs 15, 17 forsecuring the disk on the all-round mounting face 48. Member 50 isconstructed as a thickened material portion projecting over mountingface 48. For mounting the disk on mounting face 48, it is merelynecessary to shove the disk under the retaining members 50. The disk canbe removed from base member 11 by laterally passing beneath it.

It is also possible to place profile members in the cavities 51, 52formed by the marginal webs 15, 16, 17, 18 of base member 11 and/or theall-round marginal web 36 of cover member 10 and they then serve tosecure the record supports. These profile members can be detachablyfixed in the particular cavities 51, 52 by suitable clamping members. Asa result of these profile members, it is possible to use a givencontainer for storing record supports having different dimensions.

I claim:
 1. A book-like container for tape or disc recording mediaholders, said container comprising:a casing member (2) formed ofcardboard, said casing member having a pair of covers connected by acurved spine section (3) and a foil (5) on the side of the casing memberthat is exterior when the book-like container is closed; and a basemember reception part (11) mounted on one of said covers for receivingthe recording media holder, a cover member reception part (10) mountedon the other of said covers, said reception parts being mounted on theside of said casing member that is interior when the book-like containeris closed, said reception parts being formed of a plastic material andbeing connected by an elastically resilient plastic sheet-likeconnecting section (9) spanning said spine section (3) of said casingmember but unconnected therewith, said connecting section being curvedand biasing said container to the closed position, said base memberreception part having four walls (15, 16, 17, 18) forming a rectangularperipheral flange defining a recess (14) for receiving the recordingmedia holder, a cut out (23) in the wall (18) of said peripheral flangeadjacent said connecting section (9) facilitating removal of the holderfrom said recess, the remaining three walls (15, 16, 17) of saidperipheral flange being stepped to form a shoulder (20) on which therecording media holder rests when received in said recess, the walls(15, 16, 17, 18) of said base member reception part elastically engaginga wall (19) of said cover member reception part (10) forming aperipheral flange on said cover member reception part, the corners ofsaid peripheral flange of said base member reception part havingoutwardly extending protrusions lying normal to the cover of said casingmember on which said base member reception part is mounted, saidprotrusions (33) formed to engage a substantially smooth surface of saidwall (19) of said cover member reception part when the book-likecontainer is in the closed condition for retaining the book-likecontainer in the closed condition.
 2. The container according to claim 1wherein said protrusions of said corners of said peripheral flangeconvexly protrude toward the outer edge of said flange.
 3. The containeraccording to claim 2 wherein said protrusions are formed of a thickenedmaterial portion.
 4. The container according to claim 1 wherein saidperipheral flange of said base member reception part has retaining means(50) on the inner surface of said walls for retaining a holder for adisc-like recording medium.
 5. The container according to claim 4wherein said retaining means comprises lips extending over said shoulder(20) for the detachable retention of a holder for a disc-like recordingmedium.
 6. The container according to claim 1 wherein both saidreception parts have recesses and a profile member is detachablyinserted in at least one of said recesses for securing the recordingmedia holder.
 7. The container according to claim 1 wherein said recessin said base member includes pins (22) for receiving the recording mediaholder.
 8. The container according to claim 1 wherein said wall (19) ofsaid cover member reception part (10) has a pair of opposing undercutedges (38, 39) for retaining a media holder in said cover memberreception part.
 9. The contaier according to claim 8 wherein said covermember reception part (10) has a recess (40) with a groove (41)extending through one of the undercut edges.